Ventilating and flushing apparatus for closets.



EVE. LAUPHEAR. VENTILATING AND FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR GLOSETSAPPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1909.

955,518. PatentedApr.19,1910.

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VENTILATING AND FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR GLOSETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1909.

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ELMER E. LAUPHEAR, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

VENTILATING AND FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR CLOSETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application filed May 25, 1909. Serial No. 498,294.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. LAUPHEAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilating andFlushing Apparatus for Closets; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableother skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in combined flushing andventilating apparatus for closet bowls.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterhaving a ventilating mechanism operated by the water used for flushingand having means controlled by the pressure of water to automaticallyoperate the flushing mechanism.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1 is a part side and partsectional elevation of a flushing and ventilating apparatus constructedin accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional viewthrough the flushing tank, with the flushing valve and the valveoperating mechanism arranged therein; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view ofthe bowl, showing the water supply pipe and valve and the valveoperating device in section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of thecombined shaft bearing and oil cup for the motor and fan shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the closet bowl,2 denotes the seat, 3 denotes the flushing tank which is connected tothe bowl by a flushing pipe 4. In the tank 3 and connected to the upperend of the flushing pipe 4 is a flushing valve 5 of any suitableconstruction. The stem 6 of the Valve 5 is connected to one end of anoperating lever 7, which is pivoted on a suitable bracket 8 secured tothe inner side of the tank, as shown.

The opposite end of the lever 7 is connected to the stem 9 of anautomatic valve controlling device comprising a hollow body portion 10having arranged therein a flexible or elastic diaphragm 11 towhich thei11- ner end of the stem 9 is connected. Between the diaphragm and theupper wall of the hollow body 10 is arranged a coil spring 12, thepressure of which is exerted to open the flush valve 5 and to normallyhold the same in an open position. Connected with the body portion 10 ofthe valve controlling device on the opposite side of the diaphragm fromthe spring 12 is a water conducting pipe 13, the lower end of which isconnected with a controlling valve casing 14 to which is also connecteda water supply pipe 15, which may be connected with the city or anyother water supply.

In the valve casing 14 is arranged a valve 16, the stem of whichprojects upwardly and has arranged thereon a head 17 adapted to beengaged by the seat 2 of the bowl. In the head 17 is formed a notch 18which is adapted to be engaged by a locking pawl 19, whereby when thevalve stem is depressed to open the Valve, said pawl will automaticallyengage the notch 18 in the head 17 of the valve stem and thereby holdsaid valve in an open position. The valve stem 14 is also provided witha coil closing spring 20, whereby when pressure is removed from the head17 and the pawl 19 disengaged from the notch 18, the valve will beclosed and the supply of water thus cut 011'.

The pawl 19 is automatically released or disengaged from the notch 18 bymeans of a controlling device 21, comprising a hollow casing havingarranged therein a flexible diaphragm 22 to which is connected the innerend of an operating stem 23, which projects through one side of thecasing and is connected at its outer end with the pawl 19,

vwhereby said pawl when the flexible diaphragm is actuated in the properdirection will be disengaged from the notch 18 to permit the valve 16 toclose as hereinbefore described. In the hollow body portion or cas-'pipe 25, the opposite end of which is connected with a valve casing 26arranged in the tank 3. lVith said valve casing 26 is also connected theend of the water conducting pipe 13, with which the controlling device10 is connected. lVithin the valve casing 26 is arranged a plug valve 27to the stem of which is connected the lever 28 of a valve operatingfloat 29 arranged in the tank 3 and adapted to be actuated by the risingand falling of the water in the tank.

To the water conducting pipe 13 is con nected the upper end of a watersupply pipe 30, which extends to and connects with a suitable watermotor 31, which may be arranged in the cellar or other out of the wayplace in the building. The supply pipe 30 is preferably provided with acut off valve 32, whereby the supply of water may be cut off from themotor when desired. The motor 31 preferably consists of a hollow casing33 having an air dome 34. In the dome 34 is arranged a bearing frame inwhich is secured a combined oil cup and shaft hearing 36, in which isrevolubly mounted the upper end of a motor shaft 37, the lower end ofwhich is revolubly mounted in a combined oil cup and bearing 38 arrangedin the bottom of the motor casing as shown. The lower end of the shaft37 projects through the motor casing and has secured thereto aventilating fan 39, which is arranged in a fan casing 40 beneath themotor casing as shown. The fan and motor casings are preferablysupported upon suitable feet 41.

On the motor shaft 37 is fixedly mounted a water wheel 42 which isoperated by a stream or jet discharged from the upper end,

of a pipe 43 the lower end of which is connected with a water inletchamber 44 arranged in the base of the motor casing and to which isconnected the lower end of the water supply pipe 30. The water from thesupply pipe 30 before entering the chamber 44 passes through a filteringscreen 45 arranged in said chamber as shown. The chamber 44 and themotor casing are preferably provided with drain ports which are normallyclosed by plugs 46 or other suitable closing devices. The water whendischarged from the pipe 43 strikes the blades of the water wheel 42 ofthe motor, thereby rapidly revolving said wheel and its shaft, thusdriving the fan 39, which will create suction through a ventilating pipe47, which extends upward and is connected at its upper end with thelower end of the flush pipe 4 by a return bend 48, thereby ventilatingthe bowl and drawing the impure air from the bowl into the fan easingfrom which it is discharged through an outlet port or passage 49 into avent pipe 50, which may be extended above the roof of the building or toany other place of discharge. The water from the discharge pipe 43,after operating the water wheel of the motor, falls to the bottom of themotor casing and is forced therefrom through a pipe 51 to the flushingtank 3 whereby said tank is filled with the same water used foroperating the motor and fan.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, is shown an enlarged detail view of thecombined oil cup and ball bearing 38 for the motor and fan shaft. Thebearing 38 consists of an oil or grease cup 52 having in its bottom aground seat 53 to receive a bearing ball 54 on the motor shaft. The cupalso has a tight fitting cover A hearing constructed in this manner hasbeen found to be efficient in preventing the water from the dome fromentering the fan casing and does not interfere with the operation of themotor and fan shaft. This form of oil cup also keeps the parts welllubricated and permits the use of hard grease which does not rise to thesurface of the water in the dome.

In the operation of the apparatus, the flush tank 3 is normally emptyand the water inlet valve 16 is normally in a closed position. As soonas pressure is applied to the seat, the valve 16 will be opened and willpermit the water to flow through the pipe 13 and into the valvecontrolling device 10, thereby actuating the diaphragm 11 therein,causing the same to close the flush valve The water passing through thevalve 16 will also enter the water supply pipe 30 and flow through thesame and the pipe to the motor, thereby operating the same and drivingthe fan as hereinbefore described. The water after operating the motorfalls to the bottom of the motor casing from whence it is forced throughthe pipe. 51 to the tank by the pressure of the air in the dome.

The air in the dome is compressed by the accumulation of the water inthe lower partof the dome after operating the motor. In the course oftime, this air will gradually work out of the dome, allowing the same tofill with alter and when this occurs, it is necessary to remove thewater from the dome. The removal of the waterfrom the dome is preferablyaccomplished by forcing more air into the tank by means of an air pump56 connected to the dome in any suitable manner preferably as shown inFig. 1 of the drawing. The water when thus driven out by the air forcedinto the dome, passes up through the pipe 51 to the tank 3.

The water in filling the tank will raise the float 29 thus causing thesame to open the valve 27, which will permit the water in the pipe 13 topass on into the pipe 2 and through the latter to the pawl controllingdevice 21 thus actuating the diaphragm therein and causing the same torelease the pawl 19 which has previously engaged the locking notch 18 inthe head 17 of the valve stem. The tank by this time will have becomefilled with water so that when pressure is removed from the seat, thespring 20 will immediately close the water supply valve 16 ,and thusrelieve the pressure in the pipe 13,

which comiects with the controlling'device 10, thereby permitting thespring 12 in said device to actuate the lever 7 and open the fiush valve5, thus permitting the water in the tank to run into the bowl and flushthe same. As the water flows out of the tank 3, the float 29 will againlower and thus close the valve 27, and the spring 24 in the controllingdevice 21 will move the pawl 19 in position to again engage the notch 18in the head 17 on the stem of the water controlling valve 16, when thelatter is opened by pressure on the seat. If the controlling valve 16should be held open by pressure on the seat, after the tank has becomefilled, the water flowing into the tank through the pipe 51 willoverflow through the upper portion of the flush valve 5 which is open asusual for this purpose and run into the bowl until pressure is removedfrom the seat and the valve 16 closed in the manner hereinbeforedescribed.

It will be noted that in the arrangement of the motor as herein shownand described, that the same runs in an air chamber in which the waterwhich operates the motor collects and is forced out by the pressure ofair therein. It is also desired to call particular attention to theconstruction of the ground joint or bearing for the motor and fan shaft.This oint, it will be noted, operates in a closed grease cup inside theair dome and positively prevents leakage of the water from the air dometo the fan casing below at the same time permits of the free rotarymovement of the shaft.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings the construction and operation of the inventionwill'be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various chan 'es in the proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a combined flushing and ventilating apparatus, for closets, thecombination of a bowl having a normally raised seat, a motor operatedventilating mechanism connected with said bowl, a water supply pipeconnected with said motor, a flushing tank, means whereby the tank isfilled by the water from said motor, a closing valve ar ranged in saidsupply pipe, a stem connect ed to said valve, and engaged with the seatof the bowl, whereby when pressure is applied thereto, the valve isopened, means to hold the valve in open position when pressure isremoved from the seat, means controlled by water pressure to releasesaid valve locking mechanism, a spring to close the valve after saidlocking mechanism is released, a flushing valve arranged in saidflushing tank, a flushing pipe to connect said valve with said bowl,water pressure controlled means for closing said flushing valve whilethe tank is being filled, a float operated pressure releasing valvewhereby pressure is relieved from said valve closing mechanism, andmeans to open said flushing valve when said closing mechanism isreleased.

2. In a combined flushing and ventilating apparatus for closets, thecombination with a fan casing, an air dome arranged thereon, a combinedfan and motor shaft in said dome and fan casing, a ground joint orhearing in said dome, a bearing ball on said shaft adapted to engagesaid bearing, a grease cup surrounding said oint to form a water-tightbearing, a motor arranged 011 said shaft and in said dome, whereby saidshaft is driven, and a fan on said shaft in said fan casing.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ELMER E. LAUPI-IEAR. Witnesses:

ISAAC JoHNsoN, Cnnsrnn GREENE.

